Paving begins on First, Tyler streets in Pittsfield

PITTSFIELD -- Starting today, workers will begin paving two major streets in the city’s year-long, $4.35 million plan to resurface 31 local roads.

City officials anticipate it will take Lane Construction four consecutive weekdays to complete First and Tyler streets, weather permitting.

Parking on these streets will be temporarily restricted from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. today, Friday, Monday and Tuesday. Drivers are advised to seek alternative routes because delays will be unavoidable.

The city had expected the repaving to begin sooner, but it was delayed by the need to further upgrade the drainage grates, according to Pittsfield Public Utilities Commissioner Bruce I. Collingwood.

"A lot more work than anticipated was done on the storm water drainage system," he said.

Collingwood said Tyler Street will be finished in time to host the annual Pittsfield Halloween Parade.

First and Tyler streets are among the eight city roads being repaved before winter weather sets in. Public works officials say the other 23 streets will be resurfaced in the 2013 construction season.

Meanwhile, the initial paving of South Street wrapped up on Wednesday, according to state transportation officials.

The first course of pavement from West Housatonic Street to Spadina Parkway is in place, smoothing over what’s been a bumpy ride the past five weeks. A final coat of asphalt will be put down next spring.

The new pavement is part of a two-year, $6 million reconstruction project of the city’s busiest street, overseen and funded by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation.

MassDOT reports paving began Wednesday of the widened area from South Mountain Road to Berkshire Life Insurance Company. In addition, paving will occur on side-road approaches and commercial and residential driveways.

The road reconstruction also includes new sidewalks, installation of new traffic signals and other upgrades along the 1.4-mile stretch of South Street.

MassDOT officials have said they expect the project to shut down for the winter by mid-November and be completed by June 2014.

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